Wind box for sintering machines



May 9, 1944. c. H. HARRIS 2,348,294

WINDBOX FOR SINTERING MACHINES Filed June 10, 1941 INVENTOR.

K/zar/es if Harm's BY 5 74 7 a I ATTOR(NEY Patented May 9, 1944 2,348,294 WIND BOX FOR SINTERING IVIACHINES Charles II. Harris, San Luis Potosi, Mexico'pas fg v I signor to American smelting and Refining I Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of a New Jersey Application June 10,,19 4l, Serial-No. 397,381

' 3 Claims.

This apparatus relates to windboxes for sintering machines and particularly concerns windboxes of the type in which'a'pool of water is maintained in the-lowermost portion of the wind- In operating a sintering machine of the-downdraft type, it is necessary to clean out the windbox at intervals by reason of the accumulation of dust particles, and the like, originating from the chargeand which are drawn through the grates -of the machine into-the windbox. In many opcrations, it has been proposed to maintain a pool of water in the bottom of the windbox and to collect therein, the non-gaseous materials passing through the grate bars into the windbox. An illustration of the latter practise. is to be found in U. S. Patent No. 1,954,951 granted to Ronald C. Rutherford on April 17, 1934.

However, whether water he used in the windbox or not, it is normally necessary to shut down the operation of the sintering machine when cleaning the windbox of accumulated materials. This is due to the fact that entrance into the windbox is usually through doors in the side of the windbox and when they are opened, the draft is maintained within the windbox and from which the -materialsaccumulating therein may be readilyremovd at any time without adversely affecting the normal. draft'on the machine.

Although the novel"v features which are believed to be characteristic ofthisinvention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and ad- ,vantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a side viewp with parts broken away, of a section of a sintering machine embodying the improvements of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. I

Like reference characters denote like parts in the two figures of the drawing.

In the-drawing, l represents the pallets of an ordinary sintering machine of the straight-line or Dwight-Lloyd type, I2 the main windbox of the machine, and I4 the flue to the fan (not shown) which supplies the draft to the charge on the grates IS. The windbox I2 is supplied with the usual end walls It, 20 and a bottom 22.

Cal

The side 24cfthe windbcx is shown as extending vertically down from the bed of the machine to a point below the flue l4 whence itis-inclined' inwardly, as indicatedat 26. I

i8 and 20, bottom 22 and inclined side wall 26 to form a reservoir 30 in which water is maintained at the level indicated at 32. The side 34 of the windox extends vertically from the bed of the machine to a point below the water level 32 but short of the bottom 22, all as indicated in Fig. 2. A water tank 36 supplied from a source 38 communicates with the bottom of reservoir 30 through conduit 40. A float and valve arrangement 42 controls the water level 32 in reservoir 30, as will be readily apparent from Fig. 2.

As thepallets I0 carry the material treated over the stationary windbox l2, particles carried into the latter through the grate bars IS in response to thedraft to which the charge is subjected, will tend to accumulate in the pool of water 30. When suflicient dust particles, metallics, or the like, depending upon the particular material being treated on the grates, have accumulated sufliciently to warrant cleaning the windbox, a hoe, rake or similar implement is inserted in the space between members 28 and enclosed and open portions of thereservoir 30,

the draft in the windbox is nowise disturbed so that the windbox is readily cleaned Without shutting down the operation of the machine.

While a specific construction has been shown in the drawing for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made within the spirit and scope of theinvention. Thus, the invention may be readily adapted to circular sintering machines instead of the straight-line type illustrated. With either type of machine, changes in design of the windbox may be made to suit the particular use or sintering operation.

. What is claimed is:

1. In metallurgical sintering machines of the down-draft conveyor, type, the improvement which consists in providing a stationary windbox havin a two-part trough which forms a reservoir for water in the bottom section of the windbox, said two-part trough having one part open to the surrounding atmosphere and arranged so that the reservoir in the bottom secoperation of the sintering machine by moving" the material outwardly through said trough part which is open to the atmosphere, means for supplying water to said trough to form the reservoir and means comprising a float-operated valve for maintaining the water in said reservoir at the level required to provide a continuous water seal for said windbox. 1 I

2. In metallurgical sintering machines of the down-draft conveyor type, the improvement which consists in providing a stationary windbox having a trough in the bottom portion extending in the direction of the conveyor movement, means for supplying water to said trough, said trough of water being divided longitudinally by one of the side walls or the windbox, said trough dividing wall extending below the level of the water in the trough to provide a water seal in the lower part of the windbox'but terminating a substantial distance above the bottom of said trough forming an outer trough portion which is open to the atmosphere, said open-trough portion providing a passageway through which material falling into the trough from the conveyor may be removed without adversely affecting the normal draft on the sinterlng machine, by scraping it under said trough dividing wall into said open trough portion and up through the water over the rim or the trough, and means responsive to,

a lowering of the water level in the trough for maintaining the water seal in said windbox.

3. In metallurgical sinten'ng machines of the down-draft conveyor type, the improvement l0 which consists in providing a stationary windbox having a divided trough in its bottom section forming a reservoir for holding water, said I trough being divided by a depending sidewall of the windbox, said wall extending below the i5 normal level of the water in the trough so as 2 material falling into the trough from the conveyor can be removed without shutting down the machine by withdrawing it from under said depending wall and over the outer edge of the trough, means for supplying water to said trough 25 and means comprising a float-actuated valve for keeping the water level in the trough normally such as to maintain the water seal continuously.

CHARLES H. HARRIS. 

